Tree-felling device.



0. A. GOOCH.

I TREE FELLINS DEVICE. APPLICATWN man mm. 1914. RENEWED mu! i3. was.

1915. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

8 2 m &. m m P Witness v inventor Patent ed Sept. 28,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnsses Attorneys ills; li lihill sinrrns clerics,

OEREL AUGUSTUS GGGGH, OF EAST MACHIAS, IEAINE, AQSIGNORTQ FOREST KING MACHINE COMPAEEY, 6F 'ivi'ilCI-IYIA, MAINE, A C(FR'PGBATION 01F MAINE.

'rnn reruns nnvroe.

hpplieation filed April 3, 1914, SerialNo, 829,324. Renewed July 13, 1915. Serial IEO. 39,700.

To aZZ whom it may concern;-

Be it linown that 1', Green A. GOOGH, a, citizen-of the United totes, residing at East Machias, in the county of Washington and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Tree-Felling Device, of which the following is a specification,

The present invention eppertains to a tree felling drag sew, end aims to provide a novel and improvedportable apparatus of that character, which is particularly adapted for felling trees.

One of the objects ofthe present invention is to provide an apparatus of the nature indicated, embodying unique means for securingor clamping the frame of the de vice to the trunk of the tree, and which will he of such construction, as to enable frame to be adjusted to accommodate various diameters of trunks, and to enable the frame to be readily applied to and removed from the trunk,

, Another object of the present invention is to provide in an apparatus of the character specified, novel means for mounting the drag or cross out saw for reciprocotory movementsnnnd for movement transversely of the tree trunk,

A still 1' er ohiect of the present invention is to provide novel. means for actuat ing or reciprocating the; saw, and to provide novel. .rn'eans for feeding the saw as it cuts its way through the tree trunk.

The present invention also coinpreliends the provision of an appsrat-iils of the nature indicated, which will be improved generally in its construction, and which embodies novel assemblage of its component parts, whereby the utility of the apparatus will he enhances.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above nature, which will be comparatively light, substantial and inexpensive in construction, which may be reedil transported or conveyed from placeto place when not in use, end which will be simple, convenient, durable, practical and efiicient in its use.

' With the foregoing and other objects in vicw'which- Willi appear as the description proceeds, the inventionzresides in the com toe v Patented Sept, 28,14 92.5, I

bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit oi the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its portions being shown in full. Fig. i is a sectional detail taken on the line l ter Fig. 1.

in carrying out the present invention,

there is employed. a portable sectoral or triangular shaped irame 1 lying in shorizontal plane, which may be fashioned from angle irons or other suitable materials. 7 T he side beams ofthe frame are arranged at an acute angle with respect to one another, and the largest or 'ercuate end of-tlie frame is provided with a, raised rail or guide 2. The side heeins or members of the frame 1' are connected by a slotted cross piece or guide 3, acent the rail or guide 2.

As a means for clamping or engaging the frame 1 to the trunk of s tree, a fixed or stationary toothed jaw -l is attached to and projects from the largest or outer end of the frame 1., adjacent one end of the rail 2 and the corresponding end of one side beam of the frame. A clamping lever 5 isiulerumed intermediate its ends to the transverse guide or cross piece 3, by means of a loolt 6 engaged through the lever and taking through the slot of the guide 3, a tail not 7 being threaded upon the upper end of the bolt 6 to clamp the bolt 8 at any adjusted position along the guide 3. The lever 5 lies below the frame and is arranged to swing in a horizontal plane. The outer or i'orward endof the lever 5 is formed with a toothed jaw projecting beyond the corresponding Fig. 2 is a cross secend of the frame and codperating with or complementing the stationary or fixed jaw ed or apical end of the frame 1,,to serve as a-"handle 9 for manipulating the lever 5. It is evident that when the bolt 6 is adjus'ted, the movable jaw 8 may be set at various positions relative to the stationary jaw- 4, and by swinging the handle and rear 'arm 9 of the lever 5-, the jaw 8 may be swung the bottom of the frame 1 adjacent its inner or pointed end, the rack 10 being disposed transversely of the frame, and having its lower free edge notched for the engagement of the handle or arm 9 of the lever 5, said arm or handle 9 being adapted to be flexed "downwardly out of engagement with the rack 10, when it is desired toswing the said fever. The arm 9 of the lever 5 is flexible vertically to engage and disengage the rack.

' As a means for supporting the inner or apical end of the frame 1, which is remote from the clamping or gripping jaws 4 and 8, a leg or standard 11 is slidable through the inner or smallest end of theframe 1,

and a set-or clamping screw 12isthreaded through said end of the frame and is'engage- 1 crume'fi or pivoted to portion able with the leg or supporting member 11, to clamp thesame at any particular adjusted position. The leg or standard 11 is adapted to rest upon the soil or any underlying ob-, ject, to support the inner or rear end of. the frame 1, while the outer or forward end of the frame is supported through the medium of the jaws 4 and 8, thus providing a three point support for the frame, which is desirable.

The carrier for the saw embodies an oscillatory carrier arm 13 which has one'end fulthe apical or inner end of the frame 1 opposite the end of the frame having the jaw 4, by means of a fulcrum or pivot member 14, journaled through the said end of the frame, the arm 13 being disposed above the frame 1 and having a longitudinal slotted guide or slide way 15. The free or forward end of the arm 13 which projects to the end of the frame having the'jaw 4 is guided for oscillatory movement in a horiontal plane upon the frame, by means of a pair of rollers 16, journaled to the bottomof the free portion of'the said arm 13, and engaging the edge of the rail or guide 2, whereby the arm 13 may be restrained for proper oscillatory movements over the'frame.

A cross head or slid 17 is slidable within the slotted guide 15 of the arm 13, and the butt end of the drag or cross' 'cu't saw 18 is bolted or otherwise secured upon the cross head 17 and projectsoutwardlyv or forwardly from the said cross head, a guide 19 being secured to the free end of the arm 13 for the slidin reception of the inactive edge ofthe saw 1 whereby the saw will beguided properly when reciprocated. The saw lies in a horiontal plane. I

The actuating means for the saw comprises an upwardly projecting oscillatory hand lever 20 having a'fork 21 at its lower end, the fork straddling the fulcrumed'pore tion ofthe carrier arm and the ends of the branches of the fork 21 being fulcrumed or pivoted to the opposite sides of the fulcrum j or pivot member 14 'of the arm 13,'as at 21, whereby the actuating lever 20 will be fulcrumed to the outer: end of the arm 13, and whereby the lever 21 will swing longitudinally of the arm 13 in a vertical plane, notof the lever 20 is adapted to be grasped lay the hands of the operator, whereby the lever 20 may be actuated manually. The lever 20 is operatively connected to the cross head or slide 17, by means of a link 22, which is provided intermediate of its ends with a break or rule joint 23. It is evident that when the lever 20 is oscillated, itwill swing in .a plane at right angles to the plane in which the arm 13 swings and will impart a reciprocatory or're'ctilinear motion to the cross head 17 for actuating thesaw.

' The rule or break 'oint 23 of the link 22 is of advantage, inasmuch as when the saw 18 is slid rearwardly' or inwardly, thelink 22 may be folded or collapsed outwardly and forwardly, to enable. the hand or actuating lever 20 to be swung downwardly upon the carrier arm, whereby the apparatus may be compactly folded for purpose of storage or transportation.

The feeding means for'the saw embodies an arm or lever 24 having a fulcrum member 25 at one end journaled through the apical portion of the frame 1, adjacent the fulcrum portion of the arm 13, the free or outer end portion of the arm 24 engaging a grooved roller 26 journaled to the bottom of the arm 13. A spiral spring 27 is attached to the frame 1, and has its free end attached-to the'arm 24 intermediate its ends, the tension of the spring 27 tendingto-swing the arm 24, so as to swing the carrier arm 13 properly to feed the saw through the tree trunk.

A latch 28 is secured upon the frame 1,

adjacent that side to which the fixed or stationary jaw 4 p arm 13 is provided with a depending lug or rsyzittached, and the carrier 90 mental. The upper end or handle portion keeper 29 engageable with the latch 28,

when the saw carrier 13 is swung to its initial or normal position at that side of the frame 1 having thejaw 4. Thus, when the keeper 29 of the carrier arm 13 is engaged by the latch 28, the carrier arm 13 will be held in normal or initial position against the tension of thespring 27, and as soon as the latch 28 is released, the carrier arm 13 will be swung into active position under the influence of the said spring.-

The stationary or fixed jaw 4 provided I at its free or outerend, with an upstanding shank member 30having a horizontal. guide 31 at its upper end projecting angularly away from the vertical plane of the jaw 4. The guide 31 has an open slot for receiving the saw, when the saw is at its normal or initial position above the jaw 4, to enable the saw to be. guided properly, when being started to the tree trunk.

.The frame 1 is preferably provided with upstanding stops 32 at the ends of the rail or guide 2, for limiting the oscillatory movements of the carrier arm 13. i

In operation, supposing the carrierarm=13 to be locked-at initial or normal position, by the latch 28, so that the saw 18 isreceived by the starting guide 31, then, the frame 1 may be attached to the tree trunk 33, as-seen in Fig.- 1, by first properly ad-- justing the clamping and fulcrum bolt- 6 of the lever 5, according to the diameter of the trunk, and then tightening clamping nut 7, to hold the fulcrum bolt 6 in place; When the arm or handle 9 of the lever 5 is depressed or released fromthe rack 10, the lever 5 may be swung, so as to open the jaws 4" and 8, whereby the jaws may be engaged over opposite sides of the trunk 33 to' clampthe trunk. Then, by swinging the armor handle 9, properly, counter clockwise, as

seen in Fig. 1, the movable jaw will be swung toward the stationary 4, to cause the jaws to properly clamp or grip the trunk 33.

8' With the present device, it is possible to en'- tree, directly adjacent the surface ofthe gage the jaws 4 and 8 to the trunk of the ground, it also being observed that the jaws 4 and 8 may be readily adjusted-relative to v each other, for accommodating tree trunks Consequently, the outer or forward end of the frame will. be supported due .to the en-,

of various diameters within the range of the particular apparatus. Then, after the jaws 4: and 8 have been applied to the tree trunk,

the leg or standard 11 is adjusted so that its foot rests upon the ground or underlying surface, the frame 1 being set at a horizontal position by sliding itsrear-or inner end 1 upon the leg or standard 11, in which event,

the set or clamping screw '12 is tightened.

gagement of the jaws Land 8 with the tree ,trunk while the inner or rear end of the.

frame will be supported by the leg or standactuating lever 20, the cross head 17 may be 'reciprocated, to actuate the saw 18. First,

the saw will be guided by both of the guides 19' and 31, .to start the saw properly into the trunk,-and "as soon as the saw starts to i cut into the trunk, it will be retracted from .theguide 31.

Due to the influence of the spring 27, the .carrier arm 13 will be fed properly, so as toapply'sufiicient pressure to the saw 18 as it cuts its way through the trunk, to properly feed the saw transversely through the trunk. The drag or crosscut saw 18, as will be apparent, is only active during the return stroke, to thereby avoid buckling of the saw, there only being a tensile strain upon the saw during :the return stroke. The forward or outward stroke of the saw is'utilized for clearing the saw dust from the kerf or cut, in. the usual manner.

A single operator may readilyoperate the.

present apparatus, withoutdifficulty', inasmuch as after the fulcrum or clamping bolt 6 of the lever 5 has been adjusted, the rear arm or handle 9 of the lever 5 may be actuated from a-point adjacentthe actuating'lever 20. Thus, when the trunk of the tree is out to such an extent,- that the tree starts to fall, the operator may quickly depress the armor handle 9 of the lever 5, so as-to release it from the rack 10, whereby the-jaws 4 and 8 maybe opened to enable the apparatus to be quickly withdrawn from the tree trunk, so as not to be injured by the falling tree. i

From the foregoing-,taken in connection with the drawings, the advantages and capabilities of the present apparatus will be obvious to those versed in the art, it being observed that the present apparatus enables the trunk ofthe tree to be severed close to the ground, to avoid leaving a stump of considerable height, as usual, which is wasteful.

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

. A tree-felling device embodying a portable frame lying in a horizontal plane and havi a 'aw meetin from one end to en a e one side of a tree trunk, means carried by the frame for engaging the opposite side of ,the tree trunk and cooperating with the said jaw to clamp the tree trunk, a carrier arm fulcrumed'upon the frame opposite the said end thereof and arranged for oscillatory movementfina horizontal plane upon the frame' with its free end pro ecting to the said end thereof, a saw lying in the horizontal ilane' and guided Y for 'reciproc atory In testimony-that I claim the foregoing as movement along the carrier arm, an up.- my own, I have hereto'aflixed my signature 10 itanding shankcarried by the said jaw and in the presence of two Witnesses.

aving a horizontal guide at its upper-end projecting angularly away from the vertical ORREL AUGUSTUS GOOCH' plane of the said j aw, the guide having an Witnesses:

open slot to receive the sav v when it is swung ANbREw F. GARDNER,

above the said jaw. ELMER E. GARDNER. 

